Archaeological Updates: Stollen ancient sculpture returned to Nepal
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Recently, it has been announced that a 12th-century sculpture is returning after it has been stolen.
The Jerusalem Post stated, “The Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) announced on Monday [Mar. 3,] that it is returning a 12th-century sculpture titled ‘Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda’ to Nepal after new research found that the object had been stolen.”
The Jerusalem Post continues, “The decision followed a collaborative agreement between the museum and the Government of Nepal, acknowledging that the sculpture had been unlawfully removed from the Guita Bahi monastery in the Kathmandu Valley.” The “Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda” has been on display at the AIC since 1997.
Jacques Schuhmacher, executive director of the Art Institute of Chicago's Provenance Research, explains in a public statement, “This return reflects the importance of provenance research, as well as the Art Institute's outreach and collaboration with countries and communities.”
According to the museum's announcement. “We are grateful to work in partnership with our colleagues from Nepal to return this object to its place of origin, and to collaborate and learn from each other into the future.” The AIC initiates the process of repatriation with the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, DC.
While it is currently unknown the exact timeline for the return of the statue, The Jerusalem Post stated, “Schuhmacher stated that the sculpture is now in the hands of the Nepali government and will eventually return to its original home.”
Continuing, they state the sculpture “Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda” is a religious work of art, carved from schist— a metamorphic crystalline rock that has a closely foliated structure and can be split along approximately parallel planes —is approximately 17.5 inches by 13 inches.
According to the AIC, it depicts “a powerful story of divine intervention and protection: During a sudden and violent storm, the serpent king Muchalinda rose to form a protective cave around the Buddha, permitting him to remain in deep meditation.” The Jerusalem Post explained, “The narrative is central to Buddhist teachings and holds cultural and spiritual importance in Nepal.”
This follows a pattern of pressure on institutions to return stolen artifacts, which has been a hot topic in the world of museums, archaeology, and art ethics. The Chicago Sun Times explained, “As scrutiny increases of art stolen by Nazis or looted from archaeological sites, the museum has expanded its provenance team and hired an expert researcher from London.”
On the topic of ownership of ancient art and artifacts, Chicago Sun Times has stated, “Knowing the ownership history of a painting, sculpture or other artwork— what is known In the museum world as provenience— has always been important in accelerating who created it and having a fuller understanding of its context and meaning.”
The Jerusalem Post, regarding the pressure on institutions to return stolen artifacts, stated, “The pressure came from multiple sources, including families whose artworks were stolen or sold under duress during World War II, countries in Asia or South America where objects were looted from archaeological sites, and Indigenous tribes who lost sacred objects generations ago.”